3 PNP generals test positive for Covid-19 

Three ranking police officials tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas identified the three as Northern Police District (NPD) director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Ylagan, Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) director Brig. Gen. Rommil Mitra and Brig. Gen. Joey Runes, who is assigned at the Office of Chief PNP.

"Kaya hindi sila naka-attend ng conference kasi nga mga positive na sila and it's good kasi at least may early detection tayo [That's why they can't attend the conference because they tested positive, and it's good at least we have early detection]," Sinas told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.

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The three ranking officials are among the 8,103 PNP personnel who have tested positive for Covid-19, with 370 active cases.

Out of the active cases in the PNP, 68.38 percent are asymptomatic, 31.08 percent are mild cases and 0.54 percent is severe

As of Sunday night, the PNP reported that 38 more police officers have recovered from the Covid-19, bringing the total number of recoveries among its ranks to 7,707.

The PNP's Covid-19 death toll stands at 26.

Meanwhile, Sinas said the PHP10-million facility housing four swab booths and dedicated isolation rooms at the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) is set to operate by next week.

He said police officers who would be in charge of the facility would have to undergo training before operating the laboratory.

“We are just waiting for our technicians to graduate from their training. I’m monitoring their training and hopefully, by (second) week of December, they can operate. I have also talked to the DOH (Department of Health) in Cebu and they are willing to tie up and guide our people as they start operating the laboratory,” he added.

The facility, located within the compound of Camp Sotero Cabahug in Cebu City, will accommodate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for police personnel and their dependents.

The PNP-funded laboratory started construction last June and is designed to process 300 to 400 swab samples per day.

Last month, the PNP started the operation of its molecular laboratory at the PNP General Hospital to provide quality health care to its personnel amid the pandemic.

In May, it also opened its own RT-PCR laboratory in Camp Crame.